patten



(No Model,) 2 Sheets-Sheet l. J. S. PATTEN. DUST GUARD FOR OAR AXLE BOXES Patented J ne 28, L898.

A TTORNEYS.

(No Model J. S. PATTEN. DUST GUARD FOR GAR AXLE BOXES.

Patented June Z8, 1898.

a I 2 1% 1 I 1 w mm: WWW

SSSSSS ES Nirnn Sra'rns .a'rnnr tries.

JA ES s. PATTEN, ornAL'rI oRE, MARYLAND.

DUST-GUARD FOR CAR-AXLE BOXE$.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,232, dated June 28, 1898 Application filed December 26, 1896- Serial No- 61'7,069. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES S. PATTEN, of Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and Improved Dust-Guard for Car-Axle Boxes, of which the following is,

a specification. ,7 My invention is an improvement in that type of dust and oil guards in which two plates having opposite concave edges embrace a car-axle and are held in working contact therewith by means of suitably-arranged springs;

The objects which I have particularly sought and believe to have fully attained are, chiefly, a greater economy orreduction of cost of manufacture of the guard, greater durability in use, easier removal of the same from an axle-box, more elastic and reliable contact with the axle, and increased ei'ficiency in excluding dust, &c.,' and preventing waste of lubricant.

In the accompanying drawings, two sheets, Figure 1 is a central'longitudinal section of a car-axle box and my improved dust-guard applied thereto and to the car-axle. Fig. 2 is a faceview of the dust-guard. Fig. 3 is an edge View of the dust-guard. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the dust-guard. Fig. 5

' is a perspective view of the lower portion of the lower sliding member of the dust-guard. Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line 0 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7, Sheet 2, is a face view of the top portion of a dust-guard, showing a modification. Fig. 8 is a face view showing a second modification. Fig. 9 is an edge view of the dustguard shown in Fig. 8.

A indicates a car-axle; B, an axle-box provided with the usual vertical socket or pocket l) in its rear end, which receives my improved dust-guard G. The flat body of the latter is composed of two parts or members 1 and 2, which are adapted to slide on each other and whose adjacent inner ends have semicircular notches to adapt them to fit closely to the cylindrical shoulder of the axle when applied thereto, as shown in Fig. 1. The lower part or member 1 of the guard C has vertical parallel side arms 3, (see Fig. 2,) which are beveled on the inner side, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to form an angular rib, and the adjacent edges of part 2 have a corresponding groove to adapt them to receiveand fit on the ribs, as shown, so that the two parts 1 2 may slide lower guard member 1.

freely on each other and yet be kept in same relation as regards the axle A.

1 preferably employ two stout wire springs D, the upper ends at of which bear on the upper slidable member 2, the other ends 5 being attached to the side edges of the lower guard member 1. The details of construction and arrangement of the springs D are as follows:

The free end portions 4 of the springs (see Fig. 2) arecrossed and rest in a groove 6 in the head of the upper slidable guard member 2, while the other or lower ends 5 of said springs enter sockets in the side edges of the of the springs D, Fig. 2, are so bent as to form a bow 7 and loop 8 and also a circular or ring coil 9. The loop 8 forms the lower terminal of the bow-7, and rests on the cap E, besides embracing the vertical portion of the The upper portions.

spring, which passes through said cap. At

the point where the other portion of the spring passes through the cap E a shoulder or abrupt bend is formed, so that the spring has a bearing on both the upper and under sides of the cap. The latter extends across and parallel to the top of the dust-guard and rests upon lugs, Fig. 1, of the axle-box-B, Fig. 1. It will be apparent that since the lower portions dot the springsare attached to the lower member 1 of. the guard the latter is not only suspended by the cap E, and thus held out of contact (see Fig. 1) with the bottom of the groove or socket b in the axle-box B, but

.at the same time the cap resists upward thrust of the upper end portion 4 of the springs that bear on the upper guard member 2. Further, the two portions of the springs which are respectively above and beneath the cap E increase the elasticity of the springs as. a Whole, so that they hold the guard members 1 2 against the axle Awith a correspondingly easy but sure and constant or even pressure, so that dust is better excluded and waste of oil prevented.

The portions of the springs D that extend down the sides of the guard are arranged in grooves 6, formed in. the" edges of guard member 1, and at points opposite and adjacent to the axle Athey project forward or laterally from the inner side or face'of the guard, so as toform, practically, supplemental springs 10,which press the guard outward against the wall of said pocket, as shown in Fig. 1. It has been usual heretofore to so arrange springs in connection with a dust-guard as to press it in the opposite directionthat is, against the inner wall of the pocket whereby a space is left that allows free admission of dust, &c., between the guard and outer or rear wall. The accumulation and hard packing of dust in the pocket hinders and may entirely prevent free movement of the guard, and hence necessitates a somewhat frequent cleaning of the pocket, which operation. puts the car on which the appliance is used temporarily out of service and entails corresponding financial loss. By arranging the guard to press outward, as I have described and shown, dust is effectively excluded from the pocket I) to practically the same degree as from the oil-chamber of the axle-box B, so that no considerable accumulation of dust can occur, save in a comparatively long space of time,thus effecting a most desirable economy.

The coils 9 of the springs D above the cap E not only increase the tension of the springs, but serve also as finger-holds, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, for use in withdrawing the guard from the axle-box pocket I). It Will be observed in this connection that when a pull is thus applied the lateral bows or projections 10 of the springs D are further straightened and flattened more or less, (see dotted lines, Fig. 3,) whereby friction of the guard with the walls of the pocket I) is largely relieved. To still further facilitate such extraction of the guard, I construct it in tapered form, (see Figs. 2 and 8)that is to say, it is gradually narrowed from the upper to the lower end.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 two separate springs are employed. A curved plate-spring P is interposed between the upper guard member 2 and the cap E, while a single wire spring D takes the place of the two springs D shown in the preferred form of my invention before described. In Figs. 8 and 9 the same form of plate-spring 4 is employed and another plate-spring 4: is arranged between the cap E and a stirrup-like metal strap D that extends down the sides of the guard proper and connects with its lower latter is inserted in an axle-box the springs are bent backward and flattened, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 9.

In the several forms of my invention the lower member 1 is provided with a series of notches 11 in the semicircular portion that works in contact with the axle A. These notches do not extend through the plate 1 and are beveled on the inner side of the guard- 2'. e., the side that is adjacent to the oil-chamber of the axle-box-aud their parallel side walls have sharp angles on top, which serve as so many scrapers or wipers for removing from the axle oil that may flow or creep along the same.

It is to be understood that I do not limit my invention to car-axle boxes, but propose employing it wherever applicable.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with the axle journal and box, of the cap, which is free and independent of said box, the dust-guard proper, comprising two flat, alined, and slidable members, and springs supporting the lower member and bearing upon the upper side of said cap, and also pressingin opposite directions between the cap and upper member of the guard, as shown and described.

2. The dust-guard for car-axle boxes,which comprises two alined sliding plates, or flat members,integral springs which draw the said plates together or toward each other, and also project laterally from the body of said guard, for exerting pressure against a rear wall of the axle-box, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with a car-axle and axle-box, of the improved dust-guard, comprising upper and lower alined, sliding members, springs, one end of which bears upon the upper member, the lower portion being attached to the lower member, and having an intermediate portion projecting from the latter as specified, whereby such springs are adapted to exert lateral pressure on the guard, substantially as shown and described, in addition to their: primary function.

4.. The combination with the dust-guard proper, and a suspension cap or bar arranged across its upper end, of a spring whose legs pass through the cap, and one of them having a shoulder that adapts it to engage the cap, so that the spring bears against and also retains its hold on the same, as shown and described.

5. The combination with the car'axle, axlebox, guard proper, and suspension-cap, of the duplicate wire springs D,which are connected with the lower member of the guard and whose upper portions have an angle where they pass through the cap, the upper extremities of the springs that project beneath said cap bearing on the upper member of the guard as shown and described.

6. The improved dust-guard, whose lower slidable member has a thick, concave upper edge provided with the transverse notches 11, which are beveled or inclined downward from the outer edge of the concave, as shown and described, for the purpose specified.

' JAMES S. PATTEN.

Witnesses:

THos. O. BAILEY, MORTON SCHAEFFER. 

